Thyroid profile in individuals with thalassemia who have received repeated blood transfusions and have a high serum ferritin level: an observational study

Abstract

Aim: Thyroid profile in patients of thalassemia with multiple blood transfusions and high serum ferritin. Methods: This prospective observational study was done Dr. B.C. Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Science, West Bengal, Kolkata, India. for 1 year 100 Children 3 to 18 years age group with proven Beta thalassemia major, Child received blood transfusions for more than 2 years and children with serum ferritin level >700(ng/ml) were included in this study. A detailed history was obtained from each patient regarding the age of diagnosis, frequency of transfusions, compliance to transfusion, and chelation was noted. 3ml of fasting blood sample from venous blood under strict aseptic precautions was taken to assess serum levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyroxine (T3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and Ferritin using Chemiluminescence Immunoassay method. Results: In the study 59% were males and 41% were females. In the present study, 27% were in the age group below 5 years, 52% were in the age group 5 to 10 years and 21% were in the age group above 10 years. The mean age of subjects was 8.12 ± 3.12 years. In the study 7% were Underweight (<3rd Centile), 71% were Normal (3rd to 90th Centile), 15% were Overweight (90th-95th) and 6.7% were Obese (>95th Centile). In the study, the mean height was 166.25± 16.87cms, and the mean weight was 21.98 ± 9.02 kgs. Mean Hb was 7.25 ± 1.87 g/dl, mean Ferritin (ng/ml) was 1300.87 ± 1022.87, mean T3(pg/ml) was 2.52 ± 1.11, mean T4(ng/dl) was 3.26 ± 2.87 and mean TSH (mIu/L) was 4.66 ± 2.32. Conclusion: Thalassemia patients have a high prevalence of endocrinological abnormalities. Several studies at different centers have demonstrated the increased prevalence of endocrinopathies in patients with thalassemia.